News
Meeting unprecendented financial challenges
SHOAPL
In November, the Cabinet discussed the changes needed to respond to the increased financial challenge created by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Support our local businesses This has been a difficult year for businesses across the country. Last month saw non-essential shops close their doors at what is usually their busiest time of year. Please remember to help our local businesses to stay afloat by continuing to use them whenever you can. Many of these businesses set up online ‘click and collect’ services during the restrictions and some can make special deliveries to serve their customers. As this magazine went to print we are hoping to see our local businesses opening again. When they do please shop local and support local services and employment. To find out more about the support available to local businesses visit www.bexleyforbusiness.co.uk
The pandemic has added to the scale of the challenge we already faced, by increasing spending and creating unprecedented uncertainty. Throughout the year we have been exploring opportunities to reduce the size of our budget gap. These include transforming services, making more behind the scenes efficiencies, reducing costs, and increasing income to make it possible to invest in priority services. The Cabinet approved a strategy to close the latest forecast budget gap of around £13m. This includes an in-depth review of services and establishment costs, with more proposals coming forward next month. Other plans include negotiating a line of credit with the government, to let us spread some of the financial impact and risk of the pandemic over future years.
The Cabinet considered the response to the public consultation this summer on six savings proposals. It approved them all, apart from changes to children’s centres, on which there will be further consultation (see below). Vulnerable people and the services that are most important to residents continue to be a priority. A further report on the Council’s financial forecasts and plans will be discussed at the Cabinet’s meeting on 15 December. “The pandemic has increased the scale of the challenge we face and makes forecasting difficult. We have a clear plan to deliver a balanced budget that invests in local services, but we may face further decisions in the new year.” Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE, Leader of the Council
Children’s Centre consultation Cabinet Members approved a proposal to develop a range of children’s centre options for further consultation at their meeting last month. A consultation into the future of the centres began in July as part of a wider consultation on proposed savings. The consultation ended last month. More than 3,700 people commented on the proposals. Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Cllr Philip Read said: “The high level of responses received demonstrates the effectiveness of
the Council’s efforts to maximise community engagement. “Whilst we in Bexley, as with all local authorities, must make difficult decisions in the current financial climate, we will always want to listen to our residents. We want to find a model for the service that will continue to provide services to our most vulnerable families.” A range of options will now be looked at before further consultation with residents, partners, staff and all stakeholders in the spring.
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